PARENT FORUMS ARE NEXT WEEK! |
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Our strategic planning partners, Jennifer Desjarlais and Ed Hudner, from Cambridge Hill Partners will be on campus next week, February 13-15. We hope that you will take advantage of these opportunities to share your input with them. This is the time to imagine our future, become stronger, and build on our deeply held core values. We not only welcome your input, we depend on it.
As a Laguna parent, you have the opportunity to meet with Jenn and/or Ed on the following days and times next week. Parents with children in multiple divisions are welcome to attend more than one forum.
Monday, February 13
8:00-9:30AM LS Parent Forum (LS Pavilion)
5:30-7:00PM US Parent Forum (Gym Foyer)
Tuesday, February 14
12:00-1:30PM MS Parent Forum (Gym Foyer)
The Family Association focus group for current FA officers takes place on Monday, February 13 from 12:00-1:30PM in the Gym Foyer.
Thank you for your thoughtful participation in this important strategic thinking.
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GOLDEN OAK GALA SINGLE TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE! |
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SPRING BENEFIT
SATURDAY, MARCH 11 | HOPE RANCH
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HOW CAN YOU SUPPORT THE SPRING BENEFIT? |
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GATHER FRIENDS (new & old) AND PLAN YOUR TABLE
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SEEKING SUMMER @ LAGUNA COUNSELORS-IN-TRAINING |
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The Summer @ Laguna Counselor-in-Training (CIT) program opens for registration on the same days as summer camps. Registration opens on February 24 for Laguna students who are looking to earn community service, and March 1 for non-Laguna students.
The S@L CIT program helps build character through leadership opportunities and supporting others. CITs will assist lead teachers and counselors with different aspects of the camp program and will serve as role models for younger campers. CITs will hopefully walk away from this experience having their comfort zone stretched while building lasting memories with our campers.
We have two CIT strands:
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Senior CITs – For students entering Gr. 9-12. Note: returning 11th and 12th grade CITs may forgo community service for a small stipend.
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Junior CITs – For students entering Gr. 7-8. Note: Junior CITs pay half camp tuition.
CITs will be required to complete a short online and half-day in-person training before joining the Summer @ Laguna team. Registration for Senior or Junior CITs takes place through regular camp registration. Please note there are limited spots per week, so please apply early. We will be in touch towards the end of March with placement and schedule information.
Note: Arts @ Laguna CITs have specific requirements and a separate application process that can be found here.
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RAISING RESILIENT GIRLS: FREE WEBINAR THIS MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13 |
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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13 | 5PM PST
YOUR GIRL IS POWERFUL. Learn how to build emotional wellness together.
Join Girls Leadership Co-founder and Co-CEO, Simone Marean and Crystyn Wright, Girls Leadership Curriculum Developer, Trainer, Educator, New York Board Co-Chair for a 75-minute interactive webinar.
In this webinar, Simone and Crystyn will look at the gender expectations of girls and how living through a pandemic makes them more problematic than ever. Then they’ll invite families to reflect on how they might take advantage of this moment to model new habits that are the foundation of wellness, resilience, and voice.
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SAVE THE DATE FOR THE NEXT LUNCH & LEARN |
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Please join us at the next Lunch & Learn on Tuesday, February 21 at 11:45AM in the Merovick Gym foyer.
Hear updates from our division heads and from our guest speaker, Laguna's School Counselor Kim Valentine.
Kim will talk to us about the mental health of our children post-COVID. Lunch will be provided. We hope to see you there!
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WARM THINGS DRIVE SUCCESS! |
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Words by Molly Morouse '23
Last month, Middle and Upper School SOCK Club members distributed warm jackets, pants, scarves, socks, and sleeping bags to those experiencing homelessness in Alameda Park. In the weeks leading up to the distribution, students went through a training presentation with SBACT. This local organization is dedicated to equipping the Santa Barbara community to lovingly engage the marginalized and actively work for the betterment of their physical, spiritual, emotional, and mental needs. Your donations served as tools of engagement for students, sparking conversations between students and community members.
Jinling Wang '25 also participated that night, representing Care Bears, a student-led club dedicated to providing accessible hygiene and menstrual products to all community members.
“It was a magical night at the Park, with so much warm energy on a really cold night," said SOCK Club Faculty Advisor Ashley Tidey. "As the kids walked away, they received a remarkable standing ovation from a huge crowd. It was truly beautiful to see so many new SOCK Club kids from the Middle and Upper School representing Laguna.”
Thank you to all three of our divisions for your donations, to our leadership teams in the Lower and Upper Schools for your work behind the scenes, and Ms. Tidey for making this night possible!
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A NEW ISSUE OF THE FOURTH ESTATE IS HERE!
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Hot off the press! The January 2023 issue of The Fourth Estate, themed "The Impermanence of Youth," is here!
Click here to check it out. Way to go, Fourth Estate staff, on another beautiful issue!
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MIDDLE SCHOOL CHESS CLUB IS IN FULL SWING |
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The Gr. 5 & 6 Chess Club is a hit! Chess Club meets each Tuesday morning in the library from 8-8:50AM. The last meeting of the year is scheduled for Tuesday, March 7.
Interested in joining? It's not too late! Click here to sign up. |
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THE FIFTH GRADE NEWSLETTER IS HERE! |
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Click the link below to catch up on all things fifth grade! |
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LAGUNA STUDENTS SUPPORT EARTHQUAKE RELIEF IN TURKEY & SYRIA |
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Sarah Woodhouse '24 and Ganden Walker '24 serve as co-presidents for the Youth For Direct Relief Club at Laguna and are kicking off the annual spring flower drive fundraiser to benefit those affected by the Turkey and Syria earthquakes. Direct Relief is providing critical medical aid, including wound care and ICU medications to internally displaced people and refugees.
“This club has been influential for both of our families, as our older siblings were former club presidents,” explains Sarah. “Because of our siblings, Direct Relief continues to be an important organization to both of us, as we are helping a non-profit, humanitarian charity and we know our efforts are going directly to the cause and the communities in need.”
For a suggested donation of $75, you can honor two people or an organization of your choice with flowers and handmade cards. The flowers and cards will be delivered by teen volunteers from Youth for Direct Relief to the recipients in the Santa Barbara area in April. To brighten someone’s day and make a difference for someone in Turkey or Syria, please place your flower order by March 31.
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DRESS DOWN DAY IS NEXT TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14! |
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Students may come to school wearing clothing that shows off the images and colors of Valentine's Day on 2/14!
The Lower School occasionally designates “dress down” days when students do not need to follow the uniform dress code. On these days, students may wear their choice of shorts, nice blue jeans, leggings, pants, skirts, tops and/or dresses. T-shirts must be free of objectionable words or images and not be a typical undershirt. Athletic shoes of any color continue to be the required footwear for students. Pajama pants and other sleepwear are not normally permitted.
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SPECIAL TECOLOTE TUESDAY ON 2/14 |
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Come to Tecolote Tuesday on February 14 to hear Valentine's Day songs performed by every grade! Mrs. Markstrum will lead the students as we begin the day with a LOVEly time of singing. Join us at 8:20AM at the pavilion. |
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THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING OUR SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR! |
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A Note from Nathalie Perez-Cino
The book fair was a huge success! With a sales total of just over $6,400, we were able to use the generated scholastic dollars to buy out the rest of the classroom wish lists AND purchase a substantial number of books to refresh classroom libraries in the Middle School! Online shopping is still available through February 12! E-wallet funds may be used to make purchases online as well.
Thank you, and we look forward to seeing you at the next fair!
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A BOOKISH ACT OF KINDNESS |
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Third Grader Sophie took her Book Fair purchasing one step further: she bought a book for the Early Kindergarten class! After she presented the book to Mrs. Surber (with a sweet inscription inside), Mrs. Surber asked if she would consider reading the book to the class. Sophie agreed, and on Monday she read Pout-Pout Fish and the Mad, Mad Day to the class of eager listeners. Thank you, Sophie!
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OWLETS COME FOR A CAMPUS VISIT |
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Lower School Spanish Teacher Ms. Martinez-Mercado and her baby boy Arlo and former Second Grade Teacher Ms. Ullman and her baby girl Magnolia made a special appearance at the Lower School last week. So sweet! |
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GRANDFRIENDS' DAY IS ON APRIL 14! CONTACT INFORMATION IS REQUESTED |
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Each year, Laguna Blanca celebrates Grandfriends’ Day and honors the special connections between generations.
If you would like your parent(s)/family friend/special neighbor to be invited to accompany your child at Grandfriends' Day this year, please click here to share their contact information so we can send a digital invitation. If your Grandfriend does not have an email, please email Jen Trupiano and we will share the invitation with you to pass on to them.
Participation is optional; students that do not have Grandfriends in attendance will be paired up with other students to enjoy activities.
EVENT DETAILS
WHEN: Friday, April 14, 2023 | 9:30AM – 12:30PM
WHO: Grandfriends with students at Lower School (due to capacity, parents are not invited unless assistance with mobility is required).
WHAT: Student musical performances, light refreshments, school tour, and professional photographs. Valet parking provided.
**Please note – there will be early dismissal and no after-school care on this day.
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LOOKING AHEAD AT THE LOWER SCHOOL |
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Dress Down Day, Valentine’s Day Theme
Tuesday, February 14
Fourth Grade Field Trip to Tajiguas Landfill
Wednesday, February 15
Professional Development Day – No School for Students
Friday, February 17
Presidents’ Day – School Closed
Monday, February 20
Trimester 2 Ends
Friday, February 24
100th Day of School
Tuesday, February 28
Spring Break
Monday, March 20 - Friday, March 31
LS Grandfriends' Day
Friday, April 14
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NACAC IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL COLLEGE FAIRS REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN |
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Spring 2023 NACAC In-Person & Virtual College Fairs start in a few weeks! Don't miss the opportunity to connect with hundreds of colleges all in one place. Click on the link below to register. |
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LOOKING AHEAD
IMPORTANT DATES FOR ALL DIVISIONS
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LOWER SCHOOL
Gr. EK-12 Contracts Due from Current Families
Friday, February 10
LS Parent Forum
Monday, February 13
8-9:30AM in Pavilion
Dress Down Day:
Valentine's Day Theme
Tuesday, February 14
Fourth Grade Field Trip to Tajiguas Landfill
Wednesday, February 15
Professional Development Day
No School
Friday, February 17
Presidents' Day
School Offices Closed
No School
Monday, February 20
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MIDDLE SCHOOL
End of Add/Drop Period Semester 2
Friday, February 10
Gr. EK-12 Contracts Due from Current Families
Friday, February 10
MS Parent Forum
Tuesday, February 14
12-1:30PM in Gym Foyer
Professional Development Day
No School
Friday, February 17
Presidents' Day
School Offices Closed
No School
Monday, February 20
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UPPER SCHOOL
End of Add/Drop Period Semester 2
Friday, February 10
Gr. EK-12 Contracts Due from Current Families
Friday, February 10
US Parent Forum
Monday, February 13
5:30-7PM in Gym Foyer
Professional Development Day
No School
Friday, February 17
Presidents' Day
School Offices Closed
No School
Monday, February 20
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